Western Australian pacer Jhye Richardson, potentially in the frame for a spot in Australia's Test squad, injured his shoulder celebrating a Sheffield Shield wicket on Sunday (November 24).
In Western Australia's fifth match of the 2024-25 season, they took on South Australia at the Adelaide Oval in a day/night fixture starting on Saturday (November 23). Batting first, WA scored 373 thanks to a century from No.3 Jayden Goodwin (139) and 79 by Ashton Turner. Brendan Doggett took 5-97 for South Australia.
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The second innings started poorly for South Australia, as they lost opener Conor McInerney off the fifth ball of the second over, trapped lbw by Jhye Richardson. Off the very next ball, Richardson struck again with a hooping inswinger to get rid of new batter Daniel Drew, also lbw, also for a golden duck.
Even as Richardson wheeled off in celebration with his teammates, he quickly went down on his haunches, clutching his right shoulder – his bowling arm. Medical staff were waved on and attended to him. Richardson left the field briefly, returning after about 15 minutes. He went on to bowl another nine overs in the innings, adding the wicket of Thomas Kelly to his tally.
Jhye Richardson, in his first #SheffieldShield game for a year, had two wickets in two balls...
— 7Cricket (@7Cricket) November 24, 2024
But in celebrating the second wicket he's hurt his shoulder high-fiving 😳
UPDATE: He's back on and bowling! Great news 🙌 pic.twitter.com/YIzUCdZMAK
Richardson's shoulder, however brief, would have concerned more than a few. Richardson has had an injury-hit career so far, with two separate dislocations of the shoulder already. This was his first first-class match since last year's Sheffield Shield, nearly a year ago, after he suffered hamstring and side injuries earlier this year.
The quick is also in the frame to participate in this year's Border-Gavaskar Trophy, or at least make the squad, as a backup to frontline seamers Pat Cummins, Josh Hazlewood and Mitchell Starc. An injury to Michael Neser has improved Richardson's chances, and if he does make it on the field it could be for the pink-ball Test in Adelaide which starts on December 6.
He has played three Tests for Australia (two with the pink ball), averaging 22.09 so far.
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